William H. Frye

Hawkins County Sheriff's Office — Rogersville, TN

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch December 30, 1931

Age 30

The Vigil Panel 63 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Special Deputy Sheriff Will Frye was shot and killed near Bulls Gap, Tennessee, while he and another deputy attempted to arrest a man wanted for larceny and bigamy. The man fled into the mountains after shooting Deputy Frye.

On March 9, 1932, the suspect walked into the Hawkins County Jail and surrendered. He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10 years.

Deputy Frye was a U.S. Army veteran. He was survived by his wife.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-59F92EA9
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Special Deputy Sheriff Frye served with the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Rogersville community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Hawkins County Sheriff's Office

Location Rogersville, TN

Platform Identity hcso.hawkins.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 30, 1931

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to 10 years

Military Service

William H. Frye served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Special Deputy Sheriff William H. Frye is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Hawkins County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Hawkins County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious